From my reading . . .
Every man should aim to do one thing well. If he dissipates his attention on several objects, he may have excellent talents entrusted to him, but they will be intrusted to no good end.
Concentrated on his proper object, they might have vast energy; but dissipated on several, they will have none. Let other objects be pursued indeed; but only so far as they may subserve the reader’s purpose.
By neglecting this rule I have seen frivolity and futility written on minds of great power; and by regarding it, I have seen very limited minds acting first rank of their profession. I have seen a large capital and a great stock dissipated; and I have seen a small capital and improved to great riches.
quoted in The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges, 1830, pg 67.
